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Since Delta Rho Epsilon was founded three years ago at the University of Maine, the sisters have been looking for a unique cause to support. They found their cause in recycled paper jewelry.
Tuesday through Thursday, the sisters will be hosting “bead parties” for BeadforLife, an organization that works to create job opportunities to eradicate poverty in Uganda.
The program sells beaded jewelry the families make out of recycled paper and uses the majority of profits to assist them in supporting themselves. BeadforLife works to teach Ugandans how to run their own businesses and facilitates savings accounts for the beaders.
“When a sister told us about this program, we knew this event would have great potential and it was something we were all passionate about,” said Kristen Kuhns, director of community service for Delta Rho Epsilon.
“We were excited to do a program that was pretty different from any of our past philanthropy,” said Stephanie Kiss, social chair of the sorority.
“I heard about this program while I was participating in Semester at Sea this summer. There were several bead parties aboard the ship and students and teachers were encouraged to support the cause,” Kiss said. “Surprisingly, the turnout was huge. The sales started out slowly, but within a week, most of the items had been sold.”
BeadforLife was founded in 2004 after three American women met an impoverished Ugandan woman, Millie, making beads outside her mud hut. They bought some of her beads and received a great reaction to the jewelry when they returned home.
The women realized there was a market for the beads in the United States and began to work with Ugandans to sell their product and help alleviate poverty.
The sisters of Delta Rho Epsilon will continue this work by hosting their own bead party.
On the day’s event the sisters will host the bead party in the Spirit Room in the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A table will be set up outside the room with information about the program and stories about some of the beaders. The sisters will provide African food they cooked for the event and will play Ugandan music to set the mood. A computer with the BeadforLife Web site will be set up for people to find out more about the organization.
The beads will be displayed inside the Spirit Room and available for purchase.
“Something we are also very excited about is we can take credit cards. A secure Web site will be set up for individuals to submit their information through the BeadforLife program,” Kuhns said.
According to Kuhns, for every $10 spent on the beads, $7.52 goes to community development for the beaders, $2.01 goes to education programs and $0.47 goes to administration and fundraising.
The sisters have been trying to spread the word about the bead parties, which are open to everyone.
“We have been advertising for this event for about a month on FirstClass — we are trying to go green,” Kuhns said.
According to BeadforLife.org, jewelry prices range from $5 to $30. The products range from small bracelets and necklaces, to earrings, note cards and loose beads.
Bangor Daily News